In an earlier post, I reported the news of an alleged altercation between rapper Chris Brown and his then-girlfriend, pop singer Rhianna. Allegedly the two of them had gotten into a heated argument while Chris was at the wheel of the car, with Rhianna receiving a black eye, concussion, and several lacerations.
Afterwards, Chris Brown denied the charges. Rhianna has kept a low profile, and reports are that she broke up with Brown and has been cooperating with the police and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.
Monday, Brown appeared at his hearing, and it was announced in court that an eleventh hour plea agreement had been reached. Brown pled guilty to assault, which is a felony. He received five years probation, must serve 180 hours of community service, and attend an anger management class. Brown has both a protective and stay-away order, forbidding him to harass, stalk, or come within 50 yards of Rhianna.
The plea was an eleventh hour development, because Rhianna apparently did not know of the agreement, and appeared at the courthouse, for the purpose of testifying at the hearing. Formal sentencing will take place August 5th.
I think Brown (and his attorney) saw the writing on the wall that Rhianna, despite early vacillations, was cooperating with authorities and that if left to a jury, the result may well have resulted in a stiffer sentence, including jail time.
I want to applaud Rhianna for wanting to see this thing through, cooperating with authorities, and finding the strength to be willing to testify against her former paramour. And I think Brown is doing the right thing with the plea barging, and hopes he takes the probation and the conditions of his sentence seriously, and learns something about himself in the process.
Brown's attorney reported that Brown will be performing his community service in his home state of Virginia, to be near his family. And I bet one thing Brown's mama will be serving her son is a big serving of humble pie.
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